{"h1":"Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the Great Lakes","faq":[{"a":"Chicago has the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the Great Lakes: 684 jobs in our data.","q":"Which city ranks first: cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the great lakes?"},{"a":"36 cities have at least 60 jobs matched to an occupation, so the list has 36 entries.","q":"How many cities are ranked?"},{"a":"A city's score is the number of its open professional roles whose occupation typically needs less than a bachelor's degree: an associate degree, a postsecondary certificate, some college, a high school diploma or no formal credential (Bureau of Labor Statistics). A posting does not state a degree. Each is matched to its standard occupation, and the education shown is what the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists as typical for entering that occupation. Some employers ask for more or less, and about one posting in a hundred has an occupation we could not match, which is left out. Only cities with at least 15 such jobs and 60 matched jobs are ranked, and a city where one employer posts at least half the openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score. Our board is professional roles, so these are a small share everywhere.","q":"How is the ranking calculated?"},{"a":"Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.","q":"How often is it updated?"}],"lead":"Chicago has the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the Great Lakes: 684 jobs in our data.","minN":60,"rows":[{"n":4922,"bar":1,"key":"IL|chicago","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/chicago","name":"Chicago","rank":1,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"684"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"14%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"4,922"}],"value":684,"change":null,"employers":["Publicis Groupe","Confidential","Mars"],"valueLabel":"684 jobs"},{"n":1265,"bar":0.2733918128654971,"key":"OH|columbus","sub":"OH","href":"/places/ohio/city/columbus","name":"Columbus","rank":2,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"187"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"15%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"1,265"}],"value":187,"change":null,"employers":["State of Ohio","Nationwide","Ohio State University-Newark Campus"],"valueLabel":"187 jobs"},{"n":1002,"bar":0.2236842105263158,"key":"OH|cincinnati","sub":"OH","href":"/places/ohio/city/cincinnati","name":"Cincinnati","rank":3,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"153"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"15%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"1,002"}],"value":153,"change":null,"employers":["Medpace Holdings","Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center","Procter & Gamble"],"valueLabel":"153 jobs"},{"n":997,"bar":0.2163742690058479,"key":"IN|indianapolis","sub":"IN","href":"/places/indiana/city/indianapolis","name":"Indianapolis","rank":4,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"148"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"15%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"997"}],"value":148,"change":null,"employers":["Eli Lilly and Company","State of Indiana","Masco"],"valueLabel":"148 jobs"},{"n":887,"bar":0.1754385964912281,"key":"MN|minneapolis","sub":"MN","href":"/places/minnesota/city/minneapolis","name":"Minneapolis","rank":5,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"120"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"14%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"887"}],"value":120,"change":null,"employers":["Mortenson","Ameriprise Certificate","George Konik Associates"],"valueLabel":"120 jobs"},{"n":663,"bar":0.1681286549707602,"key":"OH|cleveland","sub":"OH","href":"/places/ohio/city/cleveland","name":"Cleveland","rank":6,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"115"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"17%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"663"}],"value":115,"change":null,"employers":["Flexjet","Sherwin Williams","KeyBank"],"valueLabel":"115 jobs"},{"n":644,"bar":0.131578947368421,"key":"WI|milwaukee","sub":"WI","href":"/places/wisconsin/city/milwaukee","name":"Milwaukee","rank":7,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"90"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"14%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"644"}],"value":90,"change":null,"employers":["Michels","Rockwell Automation","Johnson Controls International"],"valueLabel":"90 jobs"},{"n":489,"bar":0.09210526315789473,"key":"MI|detroit","sub":"MI","href":"/places/michigan/city/detroit","name":"Detroit","rank":8,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"63"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"13%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"489"}],"value":63,"change":null,"employers":["Wayne State University","Henry Ford Health System","Accident Fund"],"valueLabel":"63 jobs"},{"n":329,"bar":0.08333333333333333,"key":"MI|grand rapids","sub":"MI","href":"/places/michigan/city/grand-rapids","name":"Grand Rapids","rank":9,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"57"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"17%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"329"}],"value":57,"change":null,"employers":["Corewell Health","Acrisure","BDO USA"],"valueLabel":"57 jobs"},{"n":367,"bar":0.08187134502923976,"key":"WI|madison","sub":"WI","href":"/places/wisconsin/city/madison","name":"Madison","rank":10,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"56"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"15%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"367"}],"value":56,"change":null,"employers":["Universities of Wisconsin [UW_Madison]","Creative Financial Staffing","Catalent Pharma Solutions"],"valueLabel":"56 jobs"},{"n":321,"bar":0.07602339181286549,"key":"OH|dayton","sub":"OH","href":"/places/ohio/city/dayton","name":"Dayton","rank":11,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"52"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"16%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"321"}],"value":52,"change":null,"employers":["University of Dayton","Modern Technology Solutions","Odyssey Systems Consulting"],"valueLabel":"52 jobs"},{"n":193,"bar":0.07309941520467836,"key":"IL|rolling meadows","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/rolling-meadows","name":"Rolling Meadows","rank":12,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"50"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"26%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"193"}],"value":50,"change":null,"employers":["Arthur J. Gallagher","Gallagher Bassett","Gallagher"],"valueLabel":"50 jobs"},{"n":206,"bar":0.04824561403508772,"key":"OH|akron","sub":"OH","href":"/places/ohio/city/akron","name":"Akron","rank":13,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"33"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"16%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"206"}],"value":33,"change":null,"employers":["FirstEnergy Akron","Babcock International Group PLC/ADR","Akron Childrens Hospital"],"valueLabel":"33 jobs"},{"n":208,"bar":0.04678362573099415,"key":"IN|fort wayne","sub":"IN","href":"/places/indiana/city/fort-wayne","name":"Fort Wayne","rank":14,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"32"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"15%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"208"}],"value":32,"change":null,"employers":["BAE Systems","RTX","L3HARRIS Technologies"],"valueLabel":"32 jobs"},{"n":182,"bar":0.04385964912280702,"key":"MI|southfield","sub":"MI","href":"/places/michigan/city/southfield","name":"Southfield","rank":15,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"30"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"16%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"182"}],"value":30,"change":null,"employers":["Lucid Motors","Sun Communities","Lear"],"valueLabel":"30 jobs"},{"n":184,"bar":0.04239766081871345,"key":"IL|mundelein","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/mundelein","name":"Mundelein","rank":16,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"29"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"16%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"184"}],"value":29,"change":null,"employers":["Coda Search│Staffing"],"valueLabel":"29 jobs"},{"n":128,"bar":0.04093567251461988,"key":"OH|toledo","sub":"OH","href":"/places/ohio/city/toledo","name":"Toledo","rank":17,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"28"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"22%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"128"}],"value":28,"change":null,"employers":["Owens Corning","Bon Secours Mercy Health","Turner Construction"],"valueLabel":"28 jobs"},{"n":187,"bar":0.03947368421052631,"key":"IL|springfield","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/springfield","name":"Springfield","rank":18,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"27"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"14%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"187"}],"value":27,"change":null,"employers":["State of Illinois","Army National Guard Units","Hshs Medical Group"],"valueLabel":"27 jobs"},{"n":123,"bar":0.03947368421052631,"key":"WI|appleton","sub":"WI","href":"/places/wisconsin/city/appleton","name":"Appleton","rank":19,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"27"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"22%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"123"}],"value":27,"change":null,"employers":["Illinois Tool Works","Ducommun","Oshkosh"],"valueLabel":"27 jobs"},{"n":154,"bar":0.03801169590643275,"key":"IL|naperville","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/naperville","name":"Naperville","rank":20,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"26"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"17%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"154"}],"value":26,"change":null,"employers":["KeHE","viaPhoton","Wipfli"],"valueLabel":"26 jobs"},{"n":161,"bar":0.03654970760233918,"key":"IL|schaumburg","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/schaumburg","name":"Schaumburg","rank":21,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"25"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"16%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"161"}],"value":25,"change":null,"employers":["Motorola Solutions","Fictiv","Zurich"],"valueLabel":"25 jobs"},{"n":218,"bar":0.03508771929824561,"key":"MN|eden prairie","sub":"MN","href":"/places/minnesota/city/eden-prairie","name":"Eden Prairie","rank":22,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"24"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"11%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"218"}],"value":24,"change":null,"employers":["Unitedhealth Group","LHC Group","Illinois Tool Works"],"valueLabel":"24 jobs"},{"n":176,"bar":0.03508771929824561,"key":"MI|troy","sub":"MI","href":"/places/michigan/city/troy","name":"Troy","rank":23,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"24"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"14%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"176"}],"value":24,"change":null,"employers":["Aptiv","Publicis Groupe","Flagstar Bank, National Association"],"valueLabel":"24 jobs"},{"n":92,"bar":0.03362573099415204,"key":"IN|jeffersonville","sub":"IN","href":"/places/indiana/city/jeffersonville","name":"Jeffersonville","rank":24,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"23"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"25%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"92"}],"value":23,"change":null,"employers":["Canadian Solar"],"valueLabel":"23 jobs"},{"n":269,"bar":0.03216374269005848,"key":"MI|ann arbor","sub":"MI","href":"/places/michigan/city/ann-arbor","name":"Ann Arbor","rank":25,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"22"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"8%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"269"}],"value":22,"change":null,"employers":["May Mobility","Torc Robotics","Thomson Reuters"],"valueLabel":"22 jobs"},{"n":112,"bar":0.03216374269005848,"key":"IL|peoria","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/peoria","name":"Peoria","rank":26,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"22"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"20%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"112"}],"value":22,"change":null,"employers":["Osf Healthcare System","Caterpillar","Nexstar Media Group"],"valueLabel":"22 jobs"},{"n":99,"bar":0.03216374269005848,"key":"WI|green bay","sub":"WI","href":"/places/wisconsin/city/green-bay","name":"Green Bay","rank":27,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"22"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"22%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"99"}],"value":22,"change":null,"employers":["Michels","W.W. Grainger"],"valueLabel":"22 jobs"},{"n":105,"bar":0.02923976608187134,"key":"OH|mason","sub":"OH","href":"/places/ohio/city/mason","name":"Mason","rank":28,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"20"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"19%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"105"}],"value":20,"change":null,"employers":["Cintas","L3HARRIS Technologies","Procter & Gamble"],"valueLabel":"20 jobs"},{"n":104,"bar":0.02923976608187134,"key":"IL|downers grove","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/downers-grove","name":"Downers Grove","rank":29,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"20"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"19%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"104"}],"value":20,"change":null,"employers":["Zachry","Regal Rexnord","Glanbia"],"valueLabel":"20 jobs"},{"n":159,"bar":0.02777777777777778,"key":"MI|lansing","sub":"MI","href":"/places/michigan/city/lansing","name":"Lansing","rank":30,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"19"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"12%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"159"}],"value":19,"change":null,"employers":["University of Michigan Health-Sparrow","Auto-Owners Insurance","Sparrow Clinton Hospital"],"valueLabel":"19 jobs"},{"n":144,"bar":0.02777777777777778,"key":"MN|st paul","sub":"MN","href":"/places/minnesota/city/st-paul","name":"St. Paul","rank":31,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"19"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"13%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"144"}],"value":19,"change":null,"employers":["George Konik Associates","Mortenson","Old National Bank"],"valueLabel":"19 jobs"},{"n":138,"bar":0.02631578947368421,"key":"MN|rochester","sub":"MN","href":"/places/minnesota/city/rochester","name":"Rochester","rank":32,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"18"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"13%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"138"}],"value":18,"change":null,"employers":["Mayo Clinic","Gilbane","Via"],"valueLabel":"18 jobs"},{"n":107,"bar":0.02631578947368421,"key":"IL|rockford","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/rockford","name":"Rockford","rank":33,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"18"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"17%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"107"}],"value":18,"change":null,"employers":["RTX","Woodward","Top Echelon Network (recruiter member boards)"],"valueLabel":"18 jobs"},{"n":93,"bar":0.02631578947368421,"key":"IL|oak brook","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/oak-brook","name":"Oak Brook","rank":34,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"18"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"19%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"93"}],"value":18,"change":null,"employers":["Hub Group","Sotera Health"],"valueLabel":"18 jobs"},{"n":87,"bar":0.02631578947368421,"key":"IN|evansville","sub":"IN","href":"/places/indiana/city/evansville","name":"Evansville","rank":35,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"18"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"21%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"87"}],"value":18,"change":null,"employers":["Deaconess Homecare","Old National Bank","Deaconess Womens Hospital Of Southern Indiana"],"valueLabel":"18 jobs"},{"n":108,"bar":0.02339181286549707,"key":"IN|carmel","sub":"IN","href":"/places/indiana/city/carmel","name":"Carmel","rank":36,"stats":[{"label":"Jobs that do not need a four-year degree","value":"16"},{"label":"Share of the city's jobs","value":"15%"},{"label":"Jobs matched to an occupation","value":"108"}],"value":16,"change":null,"employers":["Allegion","Belden","CNO Financial Group"],"valueLabel":"16 jobs"}],"slug":"cities-with-the-most-jobs-that-do-not-need-a-four-year-degree-in-the-great-lakes","unit":"openings","scope":{"id":"great-lakes","kind":"region","name":"Great Lakes"},"title":"Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the Great Lakes","family":"Degrees","method":["A city's score is the number of its open professional roles whose occupation typically needs less than a bachelor's degree: an associate degree, a postsecondary certificate, some college, a high school diploma or no formal credential (Bureau of Labor Statistics).","A posting does not state a degree. Each is matched to its standard occupation, and the education shown is what the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists as typical for entering that occupation. Some employers ask for more or less, and about one posting in a hundred has an occupation we could not match, which is left out. Only cities with at least 15 such jobs and 60 matched jobs are ranked, and a city where one employer posts at least half the openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score. Our board is professional roles, so these are a small share everywhere."],"builtAt":"2026-11-03T15:06:31.259Z","edition":"2026-11","measure":"dg_city","sources":["NextChapter job data: open professional roles, matched to standard occupation (SOC) codes","Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025-35: typical entry-level education and projected employment change by occupation"],"baseline":null,"keyFacts":["#1 Chicago, IL: 684 jobs","#2 Columbus, OH: 187 jobs","#3 Cincinnati, OH: 153 jobs","36 cities ranked in the Great Lakes","Data as of November 2026"],"placeNoun":"cities","commentary":["The lead is wide: Chicago (684 jobs) is well clear of Madison at #10 (56 jobs).","Grand Rapids reaches #9 on a sample of 329 jobs matched to an occupation, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.","Chicago is the largest market in the top ten, with 4,922 jobs matched to an occupation behind its figure.","Cities with fewer than 60 jobs matched to an occupation are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful."],"license":"Free to use and share with a link to https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/cities-with-the-most-jobs-that-do-not-need-a-four-year-degree-in-the-great-lakes"}